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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Verapimil in episodic CHeads
        
(Message started by: BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Oct 13^th, 2005, 9:38pm)

Title: Verapimil in episodic CHeads
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Oct 13^th, 2005, 9:38pm

How long do you take verapimil if you are episodic? Do you continue on a small dose even when you are not in cycle?
So lets say i take 480mg a day when in cycle, and then when the cycle is over, i reduce to 240mg a day. You think that would help me to not start another cycle? Or you just think i will build up a tolerance to it?
Thanks and PF wishes
BMonee

Title: Re: Verapimil in episodic CHeads
Post by Mr. Happy on Oct 13^th, 2005, 11:55pm

Episodic.
Ramp down. ASAP.
You'll be the first to know if it's the wrong choice.

Take what you need. Leave the rest.
Den
RJ

Title: Re: Verapimil in episodic CHeads
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Oct 14^th, 2005, 12:00am

You are saying i will be the first to know because i may get hit after i get it out of my system?
Thanks
BMonee

Title: Re: Verapimil in episodic CHeads
Post by Mr. Happy on Oct 14^th, 2005, 12:19am

Yup. Simple as that.

Only users lose drugs.
RJ

Title: Re: Verapimil in episodic CHeads
Post by LeLimey on Oct 14^th, 2005, 3:58am

Brian what dose of verap are you on? You should be winding down gradually anyway, I was recommended to wind down by 80mg a week (check with your own doc though cos you are not me!) And the good thing about doing it this way is if you are NOT out of cycle you are going to know pretty quickly and can increase your dose again. It'll take a few weeks to come off it but the advantage is you won't have to do much to increase the dose again if you were overly optimistic.. here's hoping your cycle is over!
Helen

Title: Re: Verapimil in episodic CHeads
Post by don on Oct 14^th, 2005, 8:09am

Quote:

Ramp down. ASAP.
You'll be the first to know if it's the wrong choice.

Couldn't say it better than that. I waiy 2 weeks after the daily/nightly hits stop and taper off the verap.

Goadsby suggests that a tolerance may build and that you should not remain on the meds when out of cycle.

Title: Re: Verapimil in episodic CHeads
Post by Kevin_M on Oct 14^th, 2005, 8:57am

Agree with all above. I lower the dosage as soon as it is not necessary to take as much. Sure, I've been wrong about when to lower it but...
Anyway, it took me too long to find the level of dosage to tame the beast and I don't want to use that level unnecessarily. Then taper down when able to the lowest level until not needed. Just don't want the beast morphing or adapting by overly prolonged acquaintance with the verap. Gives me confidence it'll work next time too.

When the fighting's over, clean 'em up and store safely.

Quote:

and then when the cycle is over, i reduce to 240mg a day. You think that would help me to not start another cycle? Or you just think i will build up a tolerance to it?

I'd think you'd just know when 240mg is not enough anymore.

Title: Re: Verapimil in episodic CHeads
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Oct 14^th, 2005, 5:50pm

Helen, i only take 180mg a day cause of a probable conflict with propranolol. I take a half pill twice a day.
I have been skipping some doses recently cause my cycle ended about 7 weeks ago. So I have been taking 180mg one day, and then 90 mg the next day.
I wonder if even that low dose made a difference cause i got hit on wednesday night. It had been a good few weeks since i last got hit.
I expect to start a new cycle in this next couple of weeks. I wanted to get the verapimil out of my system so that i can do a cluster-buster treatment right at the start. Last cycle i did 2 treatments and i believe it reduced the severity but not the frequency.
Thanks
PF wishes
BMonee

Title: Re: Verapimil in episodic CHeads
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Oct 15^th, 2005, 7:19pm

Hi BMonee,

Sorry I picked up late on this thread.

I'm also episodic ... 3-5 years between. After my first 2 cycles, I stayed on low-dose Verap (120mg/day). My last cycle, I needed to greatly increase my dose to obtain relief.

When it was over, I decided to wean totally off between cycles. I was afraid I'd reach a point where Verap wouldn't work any more.

Took about 4 months to do it from 600mg/day. I did fine reducing by about 120mg/day every two weeks. Took me the longest to go from 240mg to 120mg/day without shadows kicking in. Been Verapamil-free for a long time now and am really happy about it. Should I decide to go the traditional treatment route next time around, I figure the Verap will still work.

In other words ... if you don't need the meds between cycles, get rid of them.

Hugs,

Kris